After months and months of trying to persuade producers, CNBC personality Darren Rovell finally has his own TV show — on another network.
“CNBC SportsBiz: Game On” will premiere Friday night on Versus, a sister channel under the Peacock umbrella that’s home to the least-watched major American sport — ice hockey — as well as bull-riding and fly-fishing.
“CNBC SportsBiz” marks the first business network production to air on another network.
Unlike Jim Cramer, Rovell will be trying to attract an audience of channel surfers, who in the past either haven’t had access to Versus — the service was absent from 90 percent of basic packages — or who lacked the patience to search for it.
The game plan is to relaunch Versus on New Year’s Day under the name NBC Sports Network, which will feature live sports-talk shows. The major problem is that sports fans have no idea the switch is coming or frankly, who Rovell even is.
On his blog, Rovell says, “I don’t want to think of this as my show. This will be an interactive, shared experience.”
With whom?
Joseph Barracato
Some rac–quet
Vogue boss Anna Wintour is used to being served, but her focus these days is on a different kind of service.
While she still likes to volley two to three times a week, that hasn’t stopped her from getting her fill of all the action at the US Open via Tennis Channel when she can’t be courtside.
Ken Solomon, who is CEO of the channel, told On The Money how the two became friends after Wintour’s office constantly called looking for scheduling info.
Since then, Wintour has been giving him some free advice on the graphic look of the channel, which is in 30 million homes.
The fashion diva suggested to Solomon that he needed a daily news show akin to ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” along with a host of other ideas that he’s taken on board.
Despite high interest in his service from influential quarters, Solomon is still struggling to get the channel onto basic systems in cable and satellite homes.
In a press conference at the Waldorf last week, Solomon accused the likes of Cablevision and Comcast of “gouging the consumer” by packaging expensive sports channels such as ESPN on basic tiers while turning down Tennis Channel, where average sub fees run around 15 cents. ESPN costs subscribers around $5 by comparison. Tennis Channel airs on some sports and lifestyle cable tiers.
The pay-TV distributors would argue they don’t want to push up prices for consumers by adding more channels that they don’t want, but Solomon isn’t backing away from the net. Claire Atkinson
Charlotte’s web
In a tough economy, designers like Charlotte Ronson, with fans including Kim Kardashian, Olivia Munn and Sarah Jessica Parker, are turning to powerhouse brands to finance shows for Fashion Week, which begins this Thursday.
The financing keeps Fashion Week thumping, in spite of a downturn that has designers competing for room on the sales floors.
Ronson, who is also the twin sister of celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson, is being sponsored by Hydroxatone, a line focused on anti-aging products.
It’s a win-win for both Ronson and the company that gets to bask in her glow.
Ronson will be showing off her new collection of beauty products at the show on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, located at Lincoln Center.
The beauty retailer Sephora is banking on Ronson’s eponymous beauty line inspired by her famous friends, including Nicole Ritchie, Paris Hilton and Drea de Matteo, who are also expected to attend the show, where Ronson’s sister Sam will spin the music.
Ronson is already accomplished with her mass-market I Heart Ronson line for JCPenney, and is debuting her own namesake collection.
Young celebs in attendance on Saturday will get to hear about Hydroxatone, which is going high-end retail this month at Macy’s. It competes directly with Strivectin.
Hydroxatone launched in 2006, with one product and a radio ad.
It has grown in five years to a line of 17 products that are being distributed at Macy’s, Ulta, HSN and Dillard’s.
The company made $139 million in 2010, and is on track for $200 million this year.
Going into retail requires repositioning, which it is attempting with Ronson’s show. The company is also in talks to sponsor Miami Swim Fashion Week.
Julie Earle-Levine